2010/11/28

Book Review for Plague Zone

Another 'zombie' book goes down. This time it is Plague Zone by David Wellington. Much like a lot of zombie features out there, books, movies, games, what have you, these aren't the walking dead. These are infected people with a virus that eats away at the brain until there is no humanity left, just enough to make the people violent. While they do bite the uninfected they also will bite, claw and do whatever else they can to attack. It isn't the best book I've read and I had a hard time not giving it 2 out of 5 but it was average. Nothing ground breaking and very basic. It centers around a man trying to get back to Seattle after the outbreak. I won't say more then that as it will ruin things. Lets just say he runs into more than just the droolers on his way. If you want a fast read, I think I read it in two days....maybe three this isn't a bad choice. He has other books out there that I might look into.

2010/11/25

A blog from drunk Gene (you haven't seen him yet)

Note: I am quite drunk typing this so forgive me if it is incoherent or slightly mushy.

So far I've this week I've figured out my Road to Damascus moment and found that it wasn't as upsetting as I thought it would be and actually more clear then I had anticipated. Went to the greatest place on Earth, The Brazilian Grill. Watched almost all of this seasons Always Sunny in Philly.

Today I slept till past 11. Had Del Taco. Watched a 9 month old freak out and crawl to the computer pointing and making noise when I found the Cyberman Picture I posted on my Facebook and at the beginning of this blog....DELETE DELETE DELETE (future nerd if there ever was one). Had Thanksgiving Dinner. Played some D&D. Drank quite a few Rum and Cokes. Had a certain Beagle behave himself for the most part. Had a frank conversation with a friend that I wasn't that close with but now I feel closer to her (wake up sunshine its your turn).

Overall it has been a great trip to SLC. A place where I feel at home because my friends (damn I miss you fuckers at BN I don't get to see anymore) are here and really those friends are my family.

I am more relaxed and at peace with life then I've been in a long time. The road I am about to go down will be rough and I could very well be making the wrong choice but that is life right? Fuck it. Right now (and that is because I am probably more drunk then I think) everything is where it should be. I have a puppy at my feet, I have great music on the computer, laundry is getting done, turkey in my belly, the best friends a guy like I could ask for...better then I could ask for actually. Ask me in a week how I feel and you'll get the usually Gene answer but right now I am smiling and wishing I had one more rum and coke and that the day was just starting.

To my friends I didn't get to see today/this trip I am sorry. Sometimes we just run out of time. To those of you in Michigan/New York/Chicago/Mass I miss many of you more then words can say.

Thanksgiving is about realizing what you're thankful for and I am thankful that I ain't Ricky Rude...wait that's not right that is what Roddy Piper was thankful for in 1989 (only one maybe two people will get that reference)...I'm thankful for my friends who have been and always will be my family.

So tomorrow know that it pains me more then you'll ever know to go back to Twin Falls. Know that what I really want to do is stay where I am respected and maybe even wanted...and not by the law either!

Tomorrow hug those that you love. But more importantly tell those people you love that you love them. Be thankful that you have what you have. But most of all be thankful that you don't get blogs from Drunk Gene very often and soon you'll be back to either get Gene 2.0 (normal blogging Gene) or Angry Gene ;)

2010/11/24

Walking Dead Episode 4 (spoilers included)

I know I said my next blog was going to be /rantmode on but the last five minutes of my life changed that....good grief was that the best 5 minutes of TV ever? I talked a little bit about the Walking Dead in the past here I believe but the last 5 minutes of Sunday's episode was amazing! Intense, filmed perfectly, emotional and awesome. I seriously didn't see it coming.



SPOILERS ahead so don't read ahead if you don't want to know because I want to say what was going through my mind as things happened.

When the first walker went up to the tent I thought it was going to be Merle. When he opened the tent flap and it was the walker I was like...shit! Then the one walks around the corner and grabs the girl after she pissed (note to self, in the zombie apocalypse either piss right at the fire or go in pairs) and I was like double shit. At that point I thought the whole camp was going to get taken out. The scene of the dude who was digging earlier walking after they killed the group was great. Glenn freaking out because he's Glenn. The chaos strangely reminded me of the scene in Platton, the last war scene, when the VC are attacking at night and they are everywhere. It had a great war feeling to it. Because of Faceoff I always think of weird music to scenes. For the record the Somewhere over the Rainbow song playing while they have that massive gun battle in Faceoff was brilliant. I actually thought of the Hymn Abide with Me while this was happening.

In the Doctor Who episode "Gridlock" they have an awesome version of Abide with Me and since I heard it, and listened to it over and over and over again because it is hauntingly beautiful, I could see that playing over this scene. With the young sister dying and the older sister just crying and holding her. The chaos against the beauty of the hymn in my mind would be perfect but I am sure in execution it wouldn't have worked but if/when I make a movie it will happen.

Actually I see it a little different. I would use it in a scene where most of the main cast dies delivering or saving whatever they are after. Like a war movie where everyone is dying but fighting anywhere which is why it popped in my head here. Everyone was fighting yet dying and it is kind of a send off for those who are dying.

Anyway back to the final scene. It had everything a final scene should have in a TV show. I don't know who the writers/director/film crew was/is on this show but they may be some of the best damn people working in TV right now. Easily the best thing on TV now and that is including great shows like Chuck and Dexter.

2010/11/23

NOOK Color

Everyone who reads this blog, well most people at least, know that I work for a small bookstore chain called Barnes and Noble. Last week NOOK Color came out and I picked mine up and let me say I love the thing! I really do. As someone who has a lot of PDF's for my D&Ding and who also enjoys reading it is great. It has a pretty good web brower as well. This is in now way me telling everyone to go buy one because if you were going to you probably already knew about but I just wanted you, my faithful readers, to know that I really do enjoy mine. If you are thinking about an ereader go to your local BN and check it out.

I also like that there are over 1.5 million free items as well. Now here is the weird thing. I turned it on this morning and went to the shop area and it had a couple of erotica books. At first I was like...wow it really does know me and my love for porn...then I realized it SHOULDN'T know that...and neither should you people forget I said it. However I started looking at the free stuff and I realized that there is a BUNCH of free erotica on this things. I mean a bunch! I found it very strange.

Okay there is a quick statement on my love of NOOK Color. If you haven't checked out my podcast you should if for no other reason than to boost my fragile ego. Also later today or tomorrow I am going to turn on /rantmode and go off on people and things like the TSA (which side will I be on? Stay tuned), rude customers, talking about how awesome the Miz is and more. Until later....Abyssina!

2010/11/10

I have RETURNED!

I have returned everyone. After a few weeks of being sick as hell I am finally better. I was also rather uninspired to be honest. I think I am getting old as the ranting from my last few entries just took it out of me but I'm back so lets get into it.

First off a little bit of zombie related news. If you haven't been watching the Walking Dead on AMC you should start. IT IS AWESOME! Its starts a little slow and to be honest I didn't like the initial 30 minutes or so. After that however...OH HELL YA as Stone Cold likes to say. The acting has been great and the story is good. I never read the comic as I think it was before I became obsessed with zombies like I have recently. Overall worth watching. I'll be honest it has got my heart going a few times recently.

Recently I've started reading my very first Doctor Who book. I skipped Doctor number Nine and went straight to the first Number 10 book. I'm not sure what to think so far other then more Doctor Who is always a good thing.

In geek news that continues with the above Doctor Who news there is a new Wiimote shaped like the Doctor's sonic screwdriver. That is a cool thing!

A few weeks ago Fallout: New Vegas came out. It is pretty damn cool. I love killing things. It really is amazingly fun to kill things. They added a bunch of things which I don't do but it's a blast killing everything and anything.

Did anything else happen? Oh yeah there was an election wasn't there? The republicans are back in power in the house. What does that mean? Nothing really. Well actually it means less will get done then usual.

I heard a brief interview with former President G.W. Bush. It actually made me almost want read his book. I might flip through it.

Let me update you all on my favorite person in the world Jennifer Petkov. I know this sounds really hokey but just seeing her smile knowing that she is dying actually makes me cry nearly every time I see it. Jennifer has lost two of her children to her ex husband. Her current husband has lost his job and Jennifer has received death threats. Its amazing now Jennifer is saying I'm sorry. I personally don't give a shit. She is a piece a human waste and my tool list will remain the Jennifer and Scott Petkov list until someone more evil arrives. Honestly unless Hitler comes back it'll be a while.

Ok that is enough for tonight. I will be doing a new podcast later this week. It feels good to be back.